LAT: Is Clinton now planting people in campaign forums?

[BeyondGeography]

==An amazing coincidence today on the campaign trail in Iowa with Hillary Clinton.

The New York senator was in Donnellson, Iowa continuing a broad statewide tour by herself, her husband, Magic Johnson and relatives and friends who've spread out to all 99 crucial counties to tell stories about her to soften and help personalize the Democratic candidate's calculating image in what's become a very tight caucus race.

According to the Associated Press, at a campaign forum in the fire station, which will be a caucus site come Jan. 3, Clinton happened to be asked about her religious faith. Practicing Methodist, she responded, adding, "I'm often asked if I'm a praying person and I am a praying person. My father prayed at his bedside every night and we prayed at the table over dinner."

Then, the most incredible thing happened. Someone pointed out that Clinton's childhood Sunday school teacher, Rosalie Bentzinger, from her Park Ridge, Ill. days happened to be right there in the very same Iowa fire station at that same moment. What are the odds? The Sunday school teacher stood up. Clinton rushed over to hug her. It was a warm moment.

The 84-year-old Bentzinger gave Clinton a photograph she happened to have with her. And Clinton announced, "She has a picture of my confirmation class -- March 27, 1959."

Last month, some folks may recall, Clinton was forced to admit planting questions in a similar forum audience in Newton after a student revealed a Clinton campaign staffer had handed her a question on global warming to ask. Clinton denied this was a regular practice and vowed it wouldn't happen again.

Today, Clinton aides said they were unaware the Sunday school teacher was in the crowd. Still, the incident happened to make a warm story to help personalize the candidate.==

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/12/are-we-planting.html?cid=94259504#comments

[Madam Mossfern]

1. I don't care who the candidate is,

this stuff makes me puke.:puke:

[Truth2Tell]

2. It's God's will.

Resistance is futile.

[here_is_to_hope]

45. Thats a Du'zy.... n/t

[Windy]

3. Don't put ANYTHING past these people!

I had such high hopes for Hillary when she first announced. I have been so sadly disappointed in her judgment and now her campaign tactics.

For such a historic moment in time, the first viable female running for president of the US, she has certainly squandered an opportunity to do things the right way and make a difference.

[jeff30997]

4. It's so lame that it looks like...

Some cheesy 1950's soviet propaganda.Shame on you Hillary for thinking that people are that stupid.

[rinsd]

5. But when Obama does it, the press decides its not a story.

"In an online posting Monday, ABC reported that an Obama volunteer wearing a press pass asked the candidate a friendly question about tax policy at an Iowa event. But several of the assembled reporters huddled and concluded that it was not a story, one of them said. Clinton faced a storm of media criticism over a similar planted question."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121802184_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2007121900011

[BeyondGeography]

6. The candidates' respective reputations evidently precede them

[joeybee12]

7. Yup, Obama is right now the media's darling, Hilary is the anti-Christ...

...for all the Obama supporters out there thinknig this is fair, just a wait a few weeks..the media will grow tired of this storyline and turn on him...if the media feels free to apply a double standard now, they'll keep opn doing it and doing it and someone else will be their target.

[peoli]

15. The difference is...

that Hillary is full of shit and Obama is not. That is why you have the discrepancy, because people can actually see the bullshit. Its an amazing human trait.

Why in Gods name would anyone SERIOUSLY want Hillary to be President? Who the hell would want to be Vice President with Bill Clinton in there?

We've had ONE Democratic President since 1980. The CLINTONS! THEIR TIME IS OVER! LETS MOVE ON FOR GODS SAKE! ITS ALMOST 2010!

[joeybee12]

18. Yeah, we ALL see what a saint he is...

...nice objective post. Another true believer...pretty darn scary.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[havocmom]

30. Question: Is anyone who doesn't like HRC a misogynist in your opinion?

The logic of your posts personally attacking critics of HRC totally escapes me.

[Tom Rinaldo]

39. You didn't ask me, but No clearly not, It is just as bad...

...to make presumptive claims of misogyny against specific people without specific incidents to link that claim to, as it is to behave like a misogynist is the first place. There are many critics of Hillary Clinton who are not and do not behave like sexists while rebuffing her candidacy for any number of reasons unrelated to gender.

[havocmom]

50. Thanks, I am one such as you describe

And the same posters attack me for bashing HRC, saying I don't like women and don't want them in power. Such bull crap they throw around! AND it smacks of bigotry when they do it; attacking others because they think there is something wrong with them for preferring someone else for the nomination, using ugly labels to demean and intimidate others. Attacking any and all who do not agree with them and their choice of candidate It is flat out obscene.

Frankly, those who label all critics of HRC as misogynists are practicing a form of sexism themselves. What? They think so little of HRC that they can't imagine anyone disagreeing with her as a human being with different priorities and methods? It is madness. Since when do all women think with one mind? What? Women can't think for themselves? Come to their own decisions? Men can't arrive at an opinion based on what they have carefully learned and measured about a candidate? I celebrate the fact that we are ALL thoughtful individuals, deserving respect and freedom. Those who continually label critics of HRC as misogynists are really practicing exactly the sort of hateful and biased prejudice they preach against.

Most of the people who have attacked me for being opposed to their candidate because of her gender were not even born when I first started working for feminist causes. They have no idea what I have done to help advance the causes of women, of choice, of equal opportunity. But, they only see critical thought they don't like and make a lot of assumptions. They know nothing about me, that I know. It is fair to consider they know little or nothing about the many other critics they personally attack.

Perhaps DU should have a work-out forum so many could expand their exercise activity beyond jumping to conclusions ;)

[Tom Rinaldo]

55. There's no reason to think that Democrats who argue over which male candidate to support

wouldn't argue about a female candidate also. There are always more than enough reasons to potentially disagree, often strongly, with a politician without gender or race being factors in that disagreement. I do think that there is some sexism coming up regarding Hillary, but I certainly don't think that everyone who opposes her is sexist or acting that way.

[BeyondGeography]

21. I feel your pain, horseface

welcome to DU.

[paulk]

46. what a content free post.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

52. We Have Had One Democratic President Since 1980 Because The Other Dem's Lost

You're a real man of genius...

[Joe the Revelator]

8. He did it to!!!!!

Is not a valid defense.

[Cameron27]

11. What the hell does that mean?

Of course it's a valid defense. Planting supporters in a crowd is standard political practice, and to single Clinton out when Obama's done it too is also hypocritical.

[Joe the Revelator]

14. So far, Clinton is the only one who has been caught red handed....

These charges toward Obama are just hearsay.

[joeybee12]

28. see post number 5...

...ain't hearsay.

[jeff30997]

13. It's a valid defense...

For a 5 years old kid.

[rinsd]

17. No it is not a valid defense

It should stop the self righteous like yourself but I doubt it will.

[sandnsea]

10. Uh, the Hillary plant admitted it

When you get that, let me know.

[joeybee12]

27. See post number 5...

...wait, don't I don't wann hear how you'll justify that.

[Snotcicles]

9. Thats show biz. nt

[sandnsea]

12. She keeps copying John Kerry's campaign

Except it was all real with him, and it's as phony as it comes with her. Hopefully Iowans won't be easily duped.

[madrchsod]

16. obama busing in students.....

hillary "busing" in a 84 year old woman 300 some miles from park ridge ill. would`t it been easier to invite her to the dinner the other night in chicago?

yup the show goes on

[jeff30997]

19. I wonder what it will be next time...

She'll hire special effect specialists to make mother Teresa's ghost appear to say she supports her ?

[Donnachaidh]

44. a breakfast meeting with the press where Hillary will find the

image of Christ burned into her toast.

[Skip Intro]

22. Innuendo from a blog by the former press secretary for Larua Bush? News? No, biased non-news bs.

please...


From the LAT's "about our bloggers:"

Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.


And if you look for recent blogs from this guy, he priases Obama, and obviously has a bias against Hillary. Coming from a former press sec for pickles, I'll take that as a compliment.

[BeyondGeography]

25. Does that explain how an 84-year-old makes it to a Hillary-is-a-real-person-forum

300 miles away armed with cutesy photos ready to produce whenever a religion question pops up?

Maybe the question was planted, too, and it was all choreographed. :scared:

[Skip Intro]

26. Hillary's got lifetime family and friends out all over Iowa. Don't let that fact interefere with

spinning conspiracies out of thin air, tho.

:eyes:

[BeyondGeography]

32. The woman in question lives in Park Ridge, Ill.

:eyes:

[Skip Intro]

35. Yeah, and she's got a lot of lifetime friends and family out in Iowa for her.

Did it sink in the second time?

[BeyondGeography]

37. Something's sinking in

[cali]

34. Well, for whatever it's worth, my 87 year old mother

travels between CT, London and Paris, at least 7 times a year. It's not like all old people are feeble.

[durrrty libby]

36. Why the fuck do you care about such minutia? This could not be sillier

[BeyondGeography]

42. Believe it or not, the planted question story really hurt her in Iowa

for your candidate's sake, you should hope a repeat isn't true. "Little" stuff like this is what really derails campaigns.

[durrrty libby]

43. Yeah riiiight. So much BullShit and not enough shovels

[BeyondGeography]

47. What got into me?

I tried talking sense to the libbster.

[durrrty libby]

48. You wouldn't know sense if it bit you on the ass, as demonstrated

by this dopey thread

[BeyondGeography]

51. Here...Don't say you weren't warned

From the comments portion of this article:

==Yes, it was staged and she was planted, and I have the proof.

The A/P press report (a photocopy of a Clinton Campaign Press Release) which has been reported verbatim in at least 12 newspapers and local TV stations, insinuates that Hillary had not seen her Sunday School teacher in years and years. Not true. They met in APRIL for BBQ in a town not 14 miles from this event.

The event was staged to make it appear that Clinton was "surprised" to see her old Sunday School Teacher in the firehouse. The two hugged. The Teacher, Rosalie Bentzinger, even brought a photo of Hillary's confirmation class. Not a dry eye in the house! After all these years!

The event also provided an excellent opportunity for Hillary to expond on her religous beliefs (presumably contrasting them with Obama's). The entire staged event was started with a planted question about her faith. After Hillary expounded on her praying habits, the long-lost Sunday School Teacher came forward from the small crowd gathered.

The problem with the event is that Hillary and Ms. Bentzinger are hardly strangers, having met at a similar campaign event in April of this year.

Ms. Bentzinger is hardly an unknown retired Sunday School teacher living in obscurity, either. Ms. Bentzinger is a well-known regliious scholar and leader and even has a religious scholarship named after her.

Hard to believe Clinton did not recognize her in the crowd, considering they shared BBQ together a few months earlier. The following photo is available on wireimage.com for sale. Looks like a smoking gun to me:

Event Name: Senator Hillary Clinton at a BBQ Fundraiser in Fort Madison, Iowa
Event Date: April 3, 2007
Caption: Presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., right, greets Keith Fraise, left, and Rosalie Bentzinger during a campaign stop at the rural Fort Madison, Iowa home of Eugene Fraisse on Monday, April 2, 2007. Bentzinger was Senator Clinton's Sunday School teacher when she lived in Park Ridge Il.
Headline: Senator Hillary Clinton at a BBQ Fundraiser in Fort Madison, Iowa
Venue: Fort Madison
Location: Fort Madison
Credit: Mark Hirsch/WireImage.com==

If you go to wireimage.com and enter "bentzinger," a photo of a little old lady at an event in Fort Madison does indeed come up:

http://www.wireimage.com/SearchResults.aspx?navtyp=SRH&sfld=C&logsrch=1&s=bentzinger

You better hope this isn't Bentzinger. Then again, you probably wouldn't recognize a potential problem for Her Majesty if it walked up to you and introduced itself.

[durrrty libby]

53. The fact that you care about such minutia is telling

[jenmito]

54. Case Closed. You WIN!

Well done. :toast:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

49. If The Piece Of Shit Is Lying He Should Resign

That's the honorable thing to do...

[lvx35]

the post with no number....

Dupe from post below, but notice how this response has no number...weird.

[Skip Intro]

29. Glitch in the matrix.

[lvx35]

38. Sweet. I love those! nt

:)

[lvx35]

23. Oh the HORROR!

She was asked a question about prayer at a forum where at least one Christian (her sunday school teacher) and probably more people in the church had come to hear her!!! Meanwhile, Dick Cheney is burning down the whitehouse. But sure glad were focusing on these important issues.

[durrrty libby]

24. Could this be any smaller or pettier? I doubt it. Why the fuck do you care

if some elderly lady is there and gives Hillary a hug. What unbelievable anal drivel

[suston96]

31. Any proof woman was "planted"?

If not, this thread is desperational.

[BeyondGeography]

33. Talk to the L.A. Times

If you're a Hillary supporter, you should at least be curious what kind of coverage she's generating.

[suston96]

41. She wasn't planted.....

What kind of header is that? Will you guys stop at nothing to get a hit? The 84-year-old Sunday school teacher made it clear that her being there was not'planted', and you can't even give credit when it is due?

********

Posted by: natekng | December 19, 2007 at 01:28 AM

She said she wasn't "planted"! So what's your point?

[ClarkUSA]

58. "Yes, it was staged and she was planted, and I have the proof."

In the Comments, there is this revelation:

Yes, it was staged and she was planted, and I have the proof.

The A/P press report (a photocopy of a Clinton Campaign Press Release) which has been reported verbatim in at least 12 newspapers and
local TV stations, insinuates that Hillary had not seen her Sunday School teacher in years and years. Not true. They met in APRIL for BBQ
in a town not 14 miles from this event.

The event was staged to make it appear that Clinton was "surprised" to see her old Sunday School Teacher in the firehouse. The two
hugged. The Teacher, Rosalie Bentzinger, even brought a photo of Hillary's confirmation class. Not a dry eye in the house! After all
these years!

The event also provided an excellent opportunity for Hillary to expond on her religous beliefs (presumably contrasting them with Obama's).
The entire staged event was started with a planted question about her faith. After Hillary expounded on her praying habits, the long-lost
Sunday School Teacher came forward from the small crowd gathered.

The problem with the event is that Hillary and Ms. Bentzinger are hardly strangers, having met at a similar campaign event in April of
this year.

Ms. Bentzinger is hardly an unknown retired Sunday School teacher living in obscurity, either. Ms. Bentzinger is a well-known regliious
scholar and leader and even has a religious scholarship named after her.

Hard to believe Clinton did not recognize her in the crowd, considering they shared BBQ together a few months earlier. The following
photo is available on wireimage.com for sale. Looks like a smoking gun to me:

Event Name: Senator Hillary Clinton at a BBQ Fundraiser in Fort Madison, Iowa
Event Date: April 3, 2007
Caption: Presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., right, greets Keith Fraise, left, and Rosalie Bentzinger during a campaign
stop at the rural Fort Madison, Iowa home of Eugene Fraisse on Monday, April 2, 2007. Bentzinger was Senator Clinton's Sunday School
teacher when she lived in Park Ridge Il.
Headline: Senator Hillary Clinton at a BBQ Fundraiser in Fort Madison, Iowa
Venue: Fort Madison
Location: Fort Madison
Credit: Mark Hirsch/WireImage.com

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/12/are-we-planting.html#comment-94184848

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. I See The Piece Was Written By The Joker's , Errr Laura Bush's Press Secretary

Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.


NICE

[ClarkUSA]

56. Is the Pope Catholic? Is Rupert Murdoch a Clinton campaign contributor? Is Bill an adulterer?

Is Hillary a phony through and through? Hey, that "Likeability Tour is hitting all the right notes, isn't it? :eyes:

[asdjrocky]

57. Set ups, weather this instance is a set up or not, like this-

is just one of the things that happens in politics. Anyone that can't spot a set up when they see one, deserves who they vote for.

And besides, it is a nice story to know that lady is still around.